MURPHY — Donning colorful sarees, kurtas and other traditional South Asian clothing, about 40 residents of Collin County gathered Saturday afternoon at a city-owned building in Murphy for a celebration. They weren’t marking a religious holiday or a family function — they were celebrating early voting ahead of Texas’ March 3 primary.
Over steaming cups of chai and cookies, voters came together to write postcards to other South Asian families in the suburbs, encouraging them to turn out to the polls. Some chatted with organizers of the event, going over sample ballots and party platforms. Others sat pretty while a henna artist drew elaborate designs on their palms, a mainstay at many South Asian weddings. Most attendees cast their ballot at the polling place next door after they’d mingled a little.
Attendees converse while personalizing postcards to send to community residents to promote the importance of their participation in the upcoming election at the South Asian American Voter Empowerment political advocacy group’s Saree Saturday celebration at Murphy Activity Center in Murphy on Feb. 21, 2026.
Steve Hamm
The event, organized by the nonpartisan group South Asian American Voter Empowerment of Texas Education Fund, was aimed at educating and mobilizing South Asians to vote. Chanda Parbhoo, founder of the group, estimates based on surveys conducted by the organization that just 10% of South Asian residents of Texas vote in primary elections. Parbhoo stressed that the organization’s work has gained greater importance in recent weeks as Indian immigrants in Frisco have become the target of activists who oppose the H-1B visa program.
Breaking News
That issue, among others like the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, drew Frisco residents Nikhil Kumar and Aroosa Badalpara to the event. Kumar said the anti-H-1B protests at recent Frisco City Council meetings and the ripple effects of racism toward Indian Americans they caused led him to get more involved in politics.
“People wouldn’t be doing that if our voices weren’t important,” Kumar, 32, said.
Aroosa Badalpara (left) and Nikhil Kumar conversed with event organizers at the South Asian American Voter Empowerment political advocacy group’s Saree Saturday celebration at Murphy Activity Center in Murphy on Feb. 21, 2026.
Steve Hamm
The couple, who are both in their early 30s, said they attended the event to find a community that cared about politics and about “South Asian empowerment.” They have started attending No Kings and pro-Palestine protests instead of going out on the weekends.
“We were disillusioned with politics [before],” Kumar said, “we’re dissatisfied with that lifestyle.”
Other Collin County residents said they attended the event because they wanted to meet fellow South Asians motivated to vote for candidates who support increasing public school funding, lowering property taxes, reproductive rights and oppose the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools.
Chanda Parbhoo (center, background) listened as Harry Sutaria (center left) and KB Savalia (center right) conversed at the South Asian American Voter Empowerment political advocacy group’s Saree Saturday celebration at Murphy Activity Center in Murphy on Feb. 21, 2026.
Steve Hamm
Parbhoo, who helped organize the event, said she hoped it would encourage attendees to mobilize their family and friends to vote. She noted that increased South Asian voter turnout could have a significant impact on downballot races in Collin County where the growth of the Asian population was highest in the nation in recent years.
Parbhoo said the event was also part of the group’s work to collect statistics on South Asian voters, so that government officials and candidates can understand their constituents better.
“We have such an influence on voting, but nobody knows anything about us,” Parbhoo said.
In addition to voter mobilization events, SAAVETX has also been hosting “know-your-rights” events for South Asian families who may have mixed immigration statuses. The group also connects South Asian candidates with information and resources.
“There’s no infrastructure to teach people how to run for office,” Parbhoo said. “After [New York City Mayor] Zohran Mamdani got into office more people have come to us wanting to run.”
Ankita focused with surgical precision as the Henna design artist left her mark on the hand of an attendee at the South Asian American Voter Empowerment political advocacy group’s Saree Saturday celebration at Murphy Activity Center in Murphy on Feb. 21, 2026.
Steve Hamm
Sophia Anwar, a candidate in the Democratic primary for the Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace position in Denton County, has benefited from SAAVETX’s efforts to collect data on South Asian voters. Anwar, who is Pakistani American, said that the organization’s data showed that there was a significant Nepalese population in her district and helped tailor her campaign to reaching out to them and other ethnic groups that are often overlooked.
“Having that knowledge can be really impactful [while campaigning],” Anwar said. “We are a large voting bloc, if we just harnessed that power.”
Related
Related
Related
